Evaporative cooler



Oct. 27, 1959 J. l.. wooD 2,910,279

EVAPORATIVE COOLER Filed Jan. 8, 1957 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MI-Gc Jv E? 36 v 30 v' I ,/22

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Oct. 27, 1959 J. L. WOOD 2,910,279

EVAPORATIVE COOLER Filed Jan. 8, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 2 C12/wss TVQD,

7X/Veurne.

United States Patent O ,i

2,910,279 EVAPORATIVE COOLER James L. Wood, Pittman, Nev., assignor to Manufacturers and Marketers, Inc., Grass Valley, Calif., a corporation of California Application JanuaryS, 1.957, Serial No. 633,138

9 Claims. (Cl. 261-24) The present invention relates in general to apparatus for reducing air temperature and, more particularly, to evaporative coolers, a general object of the invention being to provide an improved apparatus of this character.

The invention contemplates an evaporative cooler of the type comprising a drum which carries on its periphery an air pervious, saturable pad and which is mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above a sump in a position such that successive peripheral portions of the saturable lpad dip downwardly into and are wetted by water in the sumpV as the drum rotates,'the air to be cooled being drawn into the drum through the saturable pad and being discharged through one end of the drurn into a room, or the like, to be cooled byA an air propelling means disposed within the drum. :The air propeliing means may comprise a blower which includes a blower wheel of the squirrel cage type disposed -in'a blower housing within the rotatable drum, the axis'of rotation of the blower wheel being perpendicular to the axis of rotationof the drum. Both the drum and the blower wheel may be driven by a common prime mover, such as an electric motor. An evaporative cooler of this general type is disclosed in Patent No. 2,289,983, granted July 14, 1942, to Tomlinson I. Moseley, and has numerous advantages many of which arey set forth in the patent, among these advantages being uniform wetting of the saturable pad, elimination of a pump for wetting the pad,

yconstant rinsing of foreign matter from the pad as it rotates through the water in the sump, and the-like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an evaporative cooler of the foregoing Vgeneral character wherein the motor for driving the blower wheel and the drum is located externally of the drum to one side ofthe axis of rotation thereof and is connected to the blower wheel by a driving connection extending through one end of the drum. With this construction, the motor is not exposed to water or water vapor within the drum, vor in the stream of cooled air discharged by the blower. Consequently, rusting and corrosion of various partsl of the motor which would result from prolonged operation in an extremely humid atmosphere are avoided, which is an important feature of the invention.

Considering the present invention more specically now, an object thereof is to provide a drum having a central axial opening in one end thereof and to provide the air propelling means with an outlet duct which projects through and is smaller than the axial opening in such end of the drum. In the preferred construction mentioned wherein the air propelling means includes a blower wheel, the outlet duct mentioned is the outlet duct ofthe blower housing, or an extension thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an evaporative cooler wherein the driving connection between the motor and the blower wheel extends through a portion of the space between the outlet duct and the periphery of the axial opening in the end of the drum, the motor being located externally of the drum and to one 2,.)10,279` "PatentedOch 27, 1959 .ice

being closed at theouter end of such axial extension and the driving connection between the motor and the blower wheel extending through the space between the outlet duct and the. cylindrical extension to thel blower wheel from a point between the closedV outer end of the cylindrical extension and the drum.

Another object is .to provide a driving connection between the motor and the blower'wheel whichincludes a shaft carrying the blower wheel and having al portion projecting froml the blowerhousing, a shaft parallel to the blower wheel shaft driven'by the motor and projecting into the space between the cylindrical extension of the drurnrand the outlet duct at a point between the closed outer end of such cylindrical extension and the drum, pulleys, orequivalents, mounted on such projecting portions Aof the blower wheel and motor driven shafts, and a belt,`for. equivalent, trained around such pulleys.

With the foregoing'cons'truction, the belt, or equivalent, for drivingthe blower wheelextends through the opening in the end of the drurn, and specificallyY through the space between the cylindrical extension of `the drum and trie 4outletduct or" the blower, tovprovide for a motor location externally ofthe drum and to one side of the axis of rotationthereof, while at the same time permitting closure ofthe-space between the cylindrical extension. ofV the drum and the outlet duct at the outertend of such Acylindrical extension inthe manner hereinbefore described. Thus, despitethe presence of a driving connection between the motor and the blower wheel through one end of the/drum, the escape of air from the drum through` the space between'the cylindrical extension of the drum and the outlet duct of the blower is prevented merely by providing a seal between theI cylindrical eX- tension and the aforementioned motor driven shaft, which is an important feature of the invention.

Another object is to provide annular sealing means between the cylindrical extension of-the drum and the end of the drum which is provided with the axial opening therethrough,'such sealing means engaging the end of the drum around the axial opening therein to prevent the ilow of air into or out of the drum between the end of the drum` and the cylindrical extension thereof. vA related object is to provide an annular sealing means'carried by the cylindrical extension and having an annular flange engageable with the end ofthe. drum around the axial opening therethrough.'l Y Y Another' object of the invention is to provide an evaporative cooler wherein at least one end of thedrum rests on rollers atleast one of which is also driven by the motor to rotate the drum.

An important object of the invention is to provide an evaporative cooler wherein the` sump is provided with a drain controlled by a drain valve andy wherein means responsive to operation of the motor for closing the drain valve is provided. With this construction, the drain, valve is opened to drain water from the sump whenever the drum and the blower wheel are not being driven by thevmotor, vthe drain preferably being located at a level such that when the drain valve is open, it drains water from the sump to a level below the drum. Thus, whenthe apparatus is not in operation, the lowermost peripheral portion of the drum does not stand in Water in the sump. This prevents deterioration of the .saturable pad when the device is not in operation, which 1s an important feature. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an evaporative cooler wherein the means responsive to operation of the motor for closing the drain valve comprises a solenoid in circuit with-the motor.

Another object is to provide a means responsive to operation of themotor for closing the drain valve which includes rotation responsive means driven by the blower vwheel shaft.

of the present invention, together with various other objects, advantages, features and results thereof which `will be apparent to those skilled in the evaporative cooler art in the light of this disclosure, may be attained with the exemplarly embodiments of the invention described in detail hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of an evaporative cooler which embodiesthe invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the evaporative cooler of the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional views respectively taken along the arrowed lines 3--3 and 4-4 of Figs. l and 2, respectively;

Fig. 5 is a semidiagr-ammatic view of another embodilment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another embodiment of the invention.

AReferring to the drawings, the evaporative cooler of the invention includes a supporting structure on which various other components of the cooler are mounted and which is designated generally by the numeral 10, this Vsupporting structure including rails 12 adapted to rest on a supporting surface 14. A tray-like reservoir or sump 16 is suitably mounted on the supporting structure 10 adjacent the bottom thereof, as by being seated on and suitably connected to the rails 12, for example.

The supporting structure includes -a standard 18 at the rear end of the evaporative cooler and standards 20 at the front end. Carried by the standards 18 and 20 in a manner to be described is a rotary drum 22 positioned vabove the sump 16l with its axis of rotation substantially horizontal 'and extending downwardly into the sump so that successive peripheral portions of the drum dip downwardly into water in the sump as the drum rotates.

The 'drum 22 includes axially spaced ends or end walls 24 and 26 which are shown as interconnected in spaced relation by longitudinal rods 28. The drum 22 carries on its periphery an air pervious, saturable, peripheral pad 30, or equivalent, which comprises a single pad element and which dips downwardly into the water in the sump 16 as the drum rotates, this pad being supported by the rods 28. The pad 30 may be of any suitable construction, theparticular structure illustrated therefor including inner and outer screens 32 and 34 confining air pervious, saturable material 36 therebetween. The material y36 may comprise Wood excelsior, or any other suitable medium, as is well known in the evaporative cooler art.

In Fig. 6 is shown a saturable pad 150 comprising inner and outer pad elements 152 and 154 each similar to the pad 30 and spaced apart radially by spacers 156 only one of which is shown. In this embodiment, the relative positions of the sump 16 and the drum 22 are such that only the outer pad element 154 dips into the sump below the water level, 158, therein. Consequently, any surplus Water in the pad element 154 tending to enter the drum 22 is absorbed by the pad element 152 to prevent entrainment of water droplets in the air dis- `charged bythe cooler, which is an important feature.

Considering the manner in which the drum 22 is mounted for rotation, the end 24 thereof carries a central bearing 38 through which extends a shaft 40 fixed on the standard 18, thereby supporting the rear end of the drum. The front end 26 of the drum is supported by rollers 42 and 44 carried by shafts 46 and 48 respectively rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 50 and 52 respectively carried by the front standards 20. The periphery of the frontend 26 of the drum 22 rests on the rollers 42 and 44 in a manner which will be apparent from Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The drum 22 is rotated by driving at least the roller 42. For this purpose, a motor 54, preferably an electric motor, is mounted on a supporting bracket S6 carried by one of the standards 20. The motor 54 drives a speed reduction unit 58 having an output shaft 60 provided thereon with a pulley 62.- Trained around the pulley 62 and around a pulley 64 on the shaft 46 is an endless belt 66. Thus, there is provided a driving connection between the motor 54 and the drum 22 which rotates the drum to cause successive peripheral portions of the saturable pad 30 to dip downwardly into and to be wetted by water in the sump 16 so that air caused to iiow through the pad is cooled by evaporation as is well Kknown in the evaporative cooler art.

Disposed Within the drum 22 and adapted to draw air thereinto through the saturable pad 30 is a blower 68 comprising a blower housing 70 having therein a blower wheel 72 of the squirrel cage type mounted for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum, the blower wheel being carried by a shaft 74 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 76 suitably supported by the blower housing. The blower 68 includes inlets 78 formed in the blower housing 70 at opposite ends of the blower wheel 72 and facing in the direction of the-axis of rotation of the blower wheel, only one of the inlets 78 being visible in Fig. l of the drawings. As the blower wheel 72 is driven in a manner to be described, it draws air into the drum 22 through the saturable pad 30 so that the air is cooled by evaporation in an apparent manner, the cooled air then being drawn into the blower housing 70 through the inlets 78 and being discharged into an outlet duct 80 which extends to the exterior of the drum 22 through a central axial opening 82 in the end 26 of the drum.

p The outlet duct 80 is smaller than the opening 82 and is encircled by a cylindrical axial extension 84 of the drum which is located radially outwardly of the outlet duct to provide a space 86 between the outlet duct and such extension. The axial extension 84 is supported by a saddle 88 extending between the standards 20 and is bolted, or otherwise secured, to such saddle. The outer end of the space 86 between the drum extension 84 and the outlet duct 80 is closed by a wall 90 having an annular flange 92 bolted, or otherwise secured, to the extension and having a ange 94 bolted, or otherwise secured, to the outlet duct 80. Thus, the outlet end of the blower housing 70 is carried by the supporting structure 10 through the wall or closure 90 and the drum extension 84. The opposite end of the blower housing 70 is supported by the shaft 40, this shaft extending into a socket 96 bolted, or otherwise secured, to the blower housing.

In order to prevent the flow of air into or out of the drum 22 through the opening 82 and between the drum extension 84 and the end 26 of the drum, an annular sealing means 98 engaging the drum extension and the end 26 of the drum around the opening 82 is provided. This annular sealing means includes an annular sealing element 100 which is secured to the drum extension 84 by an encircling annular band 102. The annular sealing element 100 is provided with an annular flange or lip 104 which engages the external surface of the end 26 of the drum V22 around the opening 82 therethrough to provide the desired fluid-tight seal.

Considering now the manner in which the motor 54 drives the blower wheel 52, one end of the blower wheel shaft' 74 projects from the housing 70 and has fixed thereon a pulley 106. The speed reduction unit 58 is provided with anoutput shaft 168 which projects through the peripheral wall of the drum extension 84 into the space 86 around the outlet duct 80 and which is parallel to the blower wheel shaft 74. While so sealing means between the shaft 108 and the peripheral wall of the extension 84 is shown, it will be understood that such -a sealing means may be employed if desired to prevent the flow of air into or out of the drum 22 through the y. space 86 and the running clearance around the shaft 108.

Fixed'on the inwardly projecting portion of the shaft 108 in alignment with the pulley 106 is a pulley 110, an endless belt 112 being trained around 'the pulleys 106 and 11'0. *'Ihus, the motor 54 drives the blower wheel 72 through the speed reducing unit 58, the output shaft 108 of this unit, the pulley 110,k the belt 112, -the pulley 106 andthe blower wheel shaft '74.

The foregoing driving connection between the motor 54 and the blower wheel 72 through one end of the drum 22, i.e., through the space 86 between the drum extension 84 and the outlet duct 80 and through the opening 82 in the end 26 of the drum, permits locating the motor 54 externally of the drum and to one side of the axis of rotation thereof so that it is not exposed to extremely humid air within the drum, or within the outlet duct. This is an important feature of the invention since it prevents the rusting and/or corrosion of various parts of the motor which would result were the motor exposed to air saturated by moisture evaporated from the pad 30.

As best shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the sump 16 is provided with a drain 114 controlled by a drain valve 116 and located at a level such that movement of the drain valve to open position permits water to drain from the sump to a level below the saturable pad 38.: Thus, by opening the drain valve 116 when the evaporative cooler of the invention is not in operation, water is drained from the sump 16 to a level below the saturable pad ,to avoid prolonged immersion of any portion of the saturable pad. This prevents deterioration or souring of any portion of the pad due to prolonged immersion when the evaporative cooler is not in use, which is an important feature.

The drain Valve 116 is automatically moved to open position when the evaporative cooler is not in operation and is automatically moved to closed position when the apparatus is in operation to raise the water level to a point such as to wet the saturable pad 30. Two means of accomplishing such automatic operation of the drain valve 116 are illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively.

6 biased inwardly toward eachother b'y a spring'126. When the shaft 74 is not rotating, the spring 126 causes the weighted arms 122 to move inwardly and these arms act on a slide member 128 on the shaft 74 to move it toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 5. Such leftward movement of the slidernernber 128 causes rotation of a crank 130 in the counterclockwise direction in opposition to the action of a tension spring 132.` The crank 130 is connected to another crank 134 by a wire 136, or the like, this crank being biased in the counterclockwise direction by va tension spring'138 and being connected to the drain valve 116 by a wire, link, or the like, as indicated by the broken line connection 140. With this construction, counterclockwise rotation of the crank 130 in response to leftward movement of the slide member 128 permits the spring 138 to rotate the crank 134 in the counterclockwise direction to open the drain the shaft `74, the weights on the arms 122 move out-l wardly away from each other in opposition to the actionl f of the spring 126. When this occurs, the spring 132,

Considering Fig. 4 first, the drain valve 116 is shown Y as connected to the armature of a solenoid 11S, which may be connected in the circuit of the motor 54 in such a way as to be energized to close the drain valve when the motor is energized to drive the drum 22 and the blower wheel 72, de-energization of the solenoid upon de-energization of the motor resulting in opening of the drain valve. For example, the foregoing result can readily be achieved by connecting the solenoid 118 in parallel with the motor 54.

Considering Fig. 5 of the drawings, illustrated therein is a rotation responsive means 126 mounted onv and driven by the blower wheel shaft 74 and adapted to open the drain valve 116 when the motor S4 is not in operation to drive the blower wheel 72, this rotation responsive means automatically closing the drain valve 116 when the motor is energized to drive the blower Wheel. The rotation responsive means includes weighted arms 122 pivotally mounted on a support 124 xed on the blower wheel shaft 74, these weighted arms being which .is` stronger than the spring 138, rotates the crank 136 'in the clockwise direction toy move the slide member 128 to the right, as viewed Ain Fig. 5, such rightward movement of the slide member being permitted by the pivotal movement yof the weighted arms 122 resulting from rotation of the shaft 74. Such clockwise rotation of the crank V130 Aproduces clockwise rotation of the crank 134 to permit the drain valve 116 to close. Thus, the drain valve 116 closes automatically in response to energization of the motor 54 and opens automatically in response to de-energization thereof.

It is thought that the operation of the evaporative cooler of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing so that only a brief description is required. When the motor 54 is energized to initiate rotation of the drum 22 and the blower wheel 72, the drain valve 11,6 is automatically closed to permit the water level in the sump 16 to rise to a value sufficiently high to insure wetting of successiveportions of the pad 30 as the drum rotates. Overflowing of the sump 16 may be prevented by any suitable control means, such as a iloat operated control. means, for example, not shown, such control means preferably being automatically operated in response to operation of the motor 54 in any suitable manner so as to prevent the introduction of water into the sump 16 when the drain valve 116 is open.

As Yviewed in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the ,drum 22 v rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the sump 16 being provided at the right side thereof with a splash guard 142 for conveying back into the sump 16 any water which drips from successively saturated portions of the pad 36. l

As the drum rotates, the pad 30 becomes saturated with water so that air drawn into the drum 22 through the pad is cooled by evaporation in a well known manner. This cooled air is drawn into the blower housing '70 through the inlets 78 by the blower wheel 72 and is discharged into the room, or other area, to be cooled through the outlet duct 80. p Y

When operation of the evaporative cooler of the invention is terminated, the drain valve 116 is automatically opened to drain excess water from the sump 16 to a level below the pad 30, thereby avoiding immersion of the lowermost portion of the pad when the apparatus is not in use.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed herein for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in such embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims which follow. y i

"7 I claim as my invention: 1; In an evaporative cooler, the Acombination of: sup- :porting structureg'a sump carried by said supporting structure; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip Vdownwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of Asaid drum so that successive portions of said paddip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; rotatable air propelling means carried by said supporting structure and located within said drum for drawing air into said drum through said pad; an outlet duct carried by said supporting structure and communicating with said air propelling means and projecting axially from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and cornmunicating with said opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced out@ wardly from said outlet duct; means for rotating said air propelling means, including a prime mover mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and said extension and including a driving connection between said prime mover and said air propelling means which extends through the space between said outlet duct and said extension; and means for rotating said drum.

2. In an evaporative cooler, the combination of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so ,that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted Iby water in said sump as said drum rotates; va blower in said drum and adapted to draw air in to said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal. axis extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the direction of the axis of rotation of said blower wheel and including an outlet duct which projects from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and communicating with said axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and said extension; a driving connection between said motor and said blower wheelextending through the space between said outlet duct and said extension; and means for rotating said drum.

3. In an evaporative cooler, the combination of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that` successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the axis yof rotation of said drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the'direction of the axis of rotation of said blower Wheel and including an outlet duct which projects from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and cornmunicating with said axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and said extension; a driving connection between said motor and said blower wheel extending through the space between said outlet duct and said extension, said driving connection including a shaft carrying said blower wheel and having a portion projecting from said blower housing, a shaft connected to said motor and parallel to said blower wheel shaft and having a portion projecting into said space between said outlet duct and said extension, pulleys on said projecting portions of said shafts, respectively, and a belt trained around said pulleys; and means for rotating said drum.

4. ln an evaporative cooler, the combination of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal 'axis extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the direction of the axis of rotation of said blower wheel and including an outlet duct which projects from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and communicating with said axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and said extension; a driving connection between said'motor and said blower wheel extending through the space between said outlet duct and said extension, said driving connection including a shaft carrying said blower wheel and having a portion projecting from said blower housing, a shaft connected to said motor and parallel to said blower wheel shaft and having a portion projecting into said space between said outlet duct and said extension, pulleys on said projecting portions of said shafts, respectively, and a belt trained around said pulleys; and means for rotating said drum, comprising a `driving connection between said motor andV said drum. j

5. In an evaporative cooler, the combination of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including having airinlets facing in the direction of the axis of f rotation of saidtblower wheel and including an outlet duct which projects from said drum through said axlal opening in said one end thereof in the direction of kthe axis of rotation of said drum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and communicating with said axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and said extension; a driving connection between said motor and said blower wheel extending through the space between said outlet duct and said extension; means `for rotating said drum;and annular sealing means engaging said extension and said one end of said drum around said opening therein. Y

6. In an evaporative cooler, the combination of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the direction of the axis vof rotation of said blower Wheel and including. an outlet duct which projects from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and communicating with said axial opening in said one end of` said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and,

said extension; a driving connection between said motor and said blower wheel extending through the space between said outlet duct and said extension; means for rotating said drum; and annular sealing means engaging said extension and said one end of said drum around said opening therein, said annular sealing means comprising an annular sealing element encircling and carried by said extension and having an annular lip in sealing engagement with the outer surface of said one end of said drum around said opening therein.

7. In an evaporative cooler, the combination of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure and provided with a drain; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the direction of the airisof rotation of said blower wheel and including an outlet duct which projects from said drum through i said axial opening in said one end thereof in the'direction of the axis of rotation of said drum; `a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and communicating withsaid axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from saidoutlet duct; a motor Y l mounted on said supporting structure externally of said drum and said extension; a driving connection between said motor and said blower wheel extending through the space between -said outlet duct and said extension; means for rotating said drum; a drain valve controlling flow through said drain; and means responsive to operation of said motor for closing said drain valve.

8. In an evaporative cooler, the combination, of: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure and provided with a drain; a mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral portions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air-pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum sotthat successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in said sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the direction of the axis of rotation of said blower wheel and including an outlet duct which projects from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof in the direction of the axis of rotation of saiddrum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure `and communicating with said axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted 9. In an evaporative cooler, the combinationiof: supporting structure; a sump carried by said supporting structure and provided with a drain; a drum mounted on said supporting structure for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis above said sump and extending downwardly into said sump so that successive peripheral por- -tions of said drum dip downwardly into said sump as said drum rotates, said drum having an axial opening in one end thereof; an air pervious, saturable pad carried on the periphery of said drum so that successive portions of said pad dip into and are wetted by water in rsaid sump as said drum rotates; a blower in said drum and adapted to draw air into said drum through said pad, said blower including a blower housing carried by said supporting structure and having therein a blower wheel rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis extending transversely of the axisof rotation ofsaid drum, said blower housing having air inlets facing in the directionof the axis of rotation of said `blower wheel and including an out-` let duct which projects from said drum through said axial opening in said one end thereof in the direction of the `axis of rotation of said drum; a cylindrical axial extension of said drum mounted on said supporting structure and communicating with said axial opening in said one end of said drum, said extension encircling and being spaced outwardly from said outlet duct; a motor mounted 1'1 onlsad `supporting structure externally of said 'drum .and

,said extension; a driving connection between said motor nand said blower wheel extending through the space between said outlet duct and said extension; means for rotating said drum; a drain valve controlling flow through said drain; and means responsive to operation of said motor for closing said drain valve, including rotation responsive means connected to said blower wheel so as to be driven thereby and connected to said drain valve.

- References Citedin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Algure Feb. 18, 1941 Stratton Junei23, 1942 Moseley July 14, i942 Cooper .Sept. 23, 1947 Rice et al. Feb. 10, 1948 Osburn et al. .-.v. Jan. 1, 1952 

